Meter protective device



Jan. 1925- J. SACHS METER PROTECTIVE DEvIcE Original Filed Jam 12.

Invenfa A ff arr-l9 Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

JOSEPH SACHS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

METER PROTECTIVE DEVICE.

Application filed January 12, 1919. Serial No 211,693

To 4 M7101)? it may (mum/i. V Be it known that I JOSEPH SACHs a citrzen of the United States, residing at Hartford. in the county f Hartford and State of Connecticut. hare nvented certain new and useful Inrprmeruents in Meter Protective- Devrces. of which the follo ing a specification 7 This ilnclrti n l latcs to lllLltl protector) tlcviccs and is of parti ular u ility in Ownnection with the H-1jill meter adapters which serve f r the protective Coielation Of an electric meter with an electri appliance or circuit containin; car-in or cabinet. Heretofore' in order t permit of properly placing'the adapter and securing it in protective relation between the cabinet and the meter. it has been custoir'rary to provide both the cabinet and the adapter With special fittings. By my invention I provide for the attachment of a meter adapter to any ordinary electri cabinet casing or appliance receiving or c ntaining housing that is provided with the rdinary holes, apertures or knock-cults usually found in hllclr cabinet f r their connection t C nduits or pipes containing the incoming and utgoing \vires: when the cabinet is not provided with such holes. openings or knock-outs the adapter may be atta hed y merely drilling or otherwise cutting an ordinary round hole in one of the casing walls. lVhile the invention is particularly directed to this ther matters are also concerned as hereinaft r appears.

In the drawin s accompanying and formin; part of the pr nt spe ification I have shown in detail an em jrO I iliienl', of the invention which will be s t f rth fully in the foll ving; description I do not restrict my elf to this particular showing; I mar depart therefr urr in several respects Within the scope of the invention defined y th claim foll wing said description Referring t said drawings;

Figure 1 is a face view of a meter installation Show); the upper part of the appliance contarnin; cabinet or casing, the meter and the coat-tin; adapter, the latter and a part of th Casing b ing broken away and in section.

Fr: "J i a se tional side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transvers ection on the line I.' 3 of Fig. l. l liilrg in the dir cti n f Renewed June 4. 1923.

Fig. I is an enlarged detail view in section Slu'HVlliQ' a form of coupler whereby my improved adapter may be connected to the al-met or asing, the dotted lines showng the positi n of the coupler when it is desired to remove the adapter from the casing.

Fig 3 is a perspective view of the adapter as it appears from the interior.

Like characters refer to like throughout the several views.

parts In order that my invention may be more' my on the cabinet and a coactin'" and cooperating slide on the adapter which may Heretofore' one A way be interlocked with the slideway in the cabinot to hold the adapter in place. Due to the p sition of the 'parts, such ada ters can best he removed by withdrawing't rem outwardly at right angles to the surface on which the meter and other parts are mounte It is also important thag'w hen the main casing is sealed and the adapter in place the latter will be locked a gainst renroval and will not require additional sealing. I

The particular form of'adapter so far as ncerns its shape or design to relate it prorwrly with any particular meter or for that matter the meter associated end thereof is n t always a vital part of my present invention. as this invention is particularly ncerned with that part of the adapter c nnt-ctible or associated with the appliance containing casing or housing. An adapter such a meets my conditi ns is such a one as that denoted in a general way by 9 and Shown separated from everything else in Fig. 5 In Figs. 1 and 2 I have also shown an electric appliance recei ing casing or h using as 5, and an electric meter as 4. Those are merely types Referring now rpwinlly to Fig 5. the particular form of adapt r there shown is one such as would be used for protective relation with What ar nown as t p r bottom connected terminal'chzunber style of meter, of which that denoted by 4 is an example. The adapter may be Constructed of sheet metal uch as steel. having oppo ide sides 5 and 6 2: front T, a meter associated portion 9 and a main cabinet or casing associated portion 9. The meter associated porti n 8 is provided with a cut which receives the terminal chamber of the meter. o that when the installation is made the said terminal chamber wiil project into the adapter and thus have. the irrs andconnection parts of said erminal rhauiber protected. lt may be remarked at this point that where other types o meter such 115 f0! instau-e the si nnected iii-ji ar to be protectively related with the adapter its conformation must be of such shape as to provide proper protectiie relation with these therwise disposed parts of th meter. The adapter at its portion 0 has a ltII o cut l which roughly speaking is of U- form, but this is a detail. lt is. lio\\'e;er a desirable, thing that the sides of the slot or opening be substantially parallel and of a definite dimension to properly fit the locker or coupling means used for the purpose of coupling and locking the adapter to the main cabinet. In each of the sides of the cut or opening 10 and suitably placed therein are the prongs or projections 11 and f2" which in the construction shown are bent up out of the metal of the adapter itself and thrown inwardly. These prongs should be practically opposite each other.

The main cabinet or casing 3 is provided at one. of its walls with a hole 13. This hole should be so'located in the cabinet that it registerssubstantially with the closed end of the slot 10 as indicated by the dotte line Fig. 5 when the parts are assembled. In

order now'that the adapter may be secured t andheld in proper relation to the main [cabinet l use a suitable loclcer or coupler such as the sleeve 14 provided with the figmge 15 at one end and having an external groove 16 at the other end. This flanged sleeve after its insertion through the hoh- 13 in the main cabinet or asing is fitted with a spiral spring 17. the lower coil of which is seated in the annular groove 16 and-the upper coil of which bear against the inner surface of the wall 18 of the main cabinet 3, so that the tension of the spring exerted bet een the internal end of the sleeve and the all 18 thus always drawing the flanged end 15 of the sleeve toward the outer surface of the wall 13 against which flie end 9 of the adapter abuts. This sleev 14constitutes the bushing for the electrical conductionconnecting the meter and the appl i a nce n. the casing as shown in the drawpgs. I I Wi tli the casing 3 and the meter l mount d on the supporting surface in proper ,wa

tidied relafiv'ellv t o each other and n ced so that the adapter may be put in p ace, the latter with its part 9 against the outer surface. of the wall 18 of the casing and with the open end of the slot 10 registering ith the opening 13. is now pushed towards the supporting surface on which the parts are mounted. When it has been pushed all the way -o that the edges at the open end of the adapter abut against the surface Within the close-l end of the slot 10 will register with the hole 13 as indicated in Fig. 5 and also in Fig 2 and 3. Before the adapter. howmet. can I e pushed down in the manner de -:;rihc it will first be necessary that the sleeve 14 he pushed so that the flanged head I tlitieol is separated from the outer surfai-e of the wall 18 a sufficient distance to permit the prongs 11 and 12 to pass thereby and between the outer surface of the wall to and the inner surface of the flange instead of abutting against the outer surface of the wall 18 it is received against the inner surface of the portion 9 and. in front of the. projections or prongs 11 and lflwhich are now disposed eircumferentiallv around the v) a flange 10 in the manner indicated m.F1g.

ln view of this,relatipn'ship the adapter is not only held fir'mly against/the wall 1 bu is also locked against movement outwardly unless access can be had to the inside of the main cabinet 3 and the sleeve lpushesoutwardly to permit'of the prongs 11 and 1'! passing by the flange 15. It will beunderstood that in thflnormal working condition of the parts the inain cabinet or housing will besealed. a. cover closing the open side of the housing as shown in Figs. 1 and i.

'so that such access to the sleeve 4 cannot be had and consequently so long as such sealed relationship is obtained. the adapter 2 wi l be maintained and securely held in proper protective relationwith the meter terminal chamber and also in connection 'ith the main cabinet 3. I

I have shown a coupler or locker which well meets the requirements. but as will be obvious there are man) other forms which may he used for the purposedescribed. The

principal consideration in such a coupler i that it should be capable of functioning in the manner stated. clear that the particular fora: of the slot or opening 10 and the disposition of the. necessary projections or rongs or other parts f r I also wish to make of a wire.

interlocking with the coupler is variable to any extent conforming with the necessities of design.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter, and a locker on the casing, for holding the adapter in assembled relation with the casing, the locker having wirepassage means.

2. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter. and a locker for holdin the meter adapter in assembled relation with the casing and retractible to release the adapter, said locker being positioned at the opening in the casing through which the wires pass from the casing to the adapter.

3. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter, and means for holding the adapter in assembled relation with the casing and having an opening therethrough for the passage of an electric appliance.

4. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter, and a locker, for holding the adapter in assembled relation with the easing and having an opening for the passage A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapteraand a locker'associated withthe casing, for holding the adapter in assembled relation with'said casing and yieldngly heldin its active position.

6. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing. a meter adapter, a locker for'holding the adapter in assembled relation with the casing, and spring means acting against the locker to maintain the same yieldingly inactive relation.

7. A meter installation comprising an lectric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter, and a hollow locker, provided with means associated therewith for yieldingly holding the adapter in assembled relation with the casing.

h. A meter installation comprising an eleca meter tric appliance receiving casing. adapter associated with the casing, a locker, means for releasably' holding the locker in position to maintain'the adapter in assembled relation with the casing. the adapter having a projection to abut against the locker. and the locker being retractiveto carry it free of the projection to thus release the adapter.

9. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing. a meter adapter in corelation with the casing, and means movable with respect to both the casing and the adapter, carried by one of the parts at the wire-passage opening thereof,

for releasably maintaining the adapter in operative relation with the casing.

10. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter in corelation with the casing, and;

means movable with respect to both the casing and the adapter, carried by one of the parts for ieleasably maintaining the adapter in operative relation with the casing, said means having in turn wire-passage means and being accessible by way of the casin to more the same to releasing position and t ins ctfect the freeing of the adapter.

11. A meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a metei adapter in corelation therewith, and locking means for holding the adapter in assembled relation with the casin and having an opening for the passage of a part from the cas ing to the adapter.

12. A meter installation comprising an electric'appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter to cooperate with the casing, and yieldable locking means for holding the adapter in assembled relation with the cas-- ing, the locking means bein accessible by way of th casing to movett 16.331118 to releasing position to freetheadapter. Y

13.-A meter installationcomprising an electric appliance rec'eiving-rcasing, a; meter adapter, and locking means :for holding the adapter in assembled relation; and movable to adapter-releasing position in a direction 'away' from the casing, said locking means havingmeans to permitithef passage of a 'wire from the casing-t0 the adapterl l4. A meter' installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing. a meter adapten and locking-means carried by one of the parts for holding the adapter in as-= s'enibled relation and movable in a direction away from the part which cairiesrit to free the v adapter, said locking means having means to-perniit the passage of a wii-e'from the casing to the adapter.

15. An electric Iappliance receiving casinghaving an opening through one of its Walls, a locker associatable with said opening, a meter adapter provided withan opening in one of its walls to receive said locker. said adapter having a projection at its opening to abut against the locker, and the locker being provided with means whereby it may be locked to hold the adapter in secured relation to the casingor may be moved to releasing position for thus permitting the dctachment of the adapter from the casing.

16. An electric appliance receiving casing having a Wire-passage opening, a locker associated with the casing at said opening, a meter adapter having an opening in one of its walls to receive said locker, means on the adapter and cooperative with the locker when in one of its positions to efi'ect the locked association of the adapter, with the casing, and means on th locker to permit of its being positioned to release the locked relntion between it and the adapter for thus permitting the removal of the adapter from the casing.

17. .\n electric appliance receiving casing having an opening in a wall thereof. a bushing in said opening. said bushing being provided with a flanged locking portion and also with means to permit its being positioned in looking or releasing relation, :1 meter adapter hai ing a slot in one of its walls, and also ll:l 'ill a projection on the slotted part, Said Hlot rcccii ing the body of the locker for thus ermitting the movement of the adapter in operative position on the casing when the bushing is in the releasing relation and to hold the adapter in locked relation with the casing when the bushing is in the locked relation 13. .\n electric appliance receiving casing, a meter adapter associated therewith. and a locker to hold the parts in col-elation with each other and having a \virewuy.

'19. in a meter installation an electric appliance receiving casing. a meter adapter, and a locker. the meter installation having means to permit of the movement of the adapter in one direction to release the same, and in the reverse direction to operatively position it in relation to the casing, and also with means movable in adireetion transverse to the first mentioned direction of the other movements to thereby effect a locked or releasing relationship of the parts comprising the aforesaid meter installation, said locker having means to permit the passage of a wire from the casing to the adapter.

20. A meter adapter having a wire-passage opening to receive a locker and also having a projection to abut against the.

locker, the locker when in place permitting the passage of a ire through the opening.

21. A meter adapter having an open-ended wire-passage opening to receive a locker and also having a projection to cooperate with the locker, the locker when in place perwnit-ting the passage of the wire through the opening.

22. A meter adapter having a wire-passage opening in one of its alls. and a projection on the aforesaid wall for thus permitting the association of said adapter with a locker and for holding said adapter in locked relation therewith when the locker is in one of its positions, the locker when in place permitting the passage of the wire through the opening.

23. An electric appliance receiving casing having a knock out, a meter adapter. and tubular locking means for holding the meter adapter to the casing and fitting the knock out opening.

24. An electric appliance receiving casing having a knock out, a meter adapter having an opening to cooperate with the knock out opening, and locking means at the cooperating openings in the casing and adapter for holding them in assembled relation, said locking means permitting the passage of wires through said openings.

25. meter installation comprising an electric appliance receiving casing, a meter, a meter adapter joining said casing and meter. an means for holding the adapter in assembled relation with the casing having an o ening therethrough for the passage of the conductors connecting the meter and the 'appliance in the casing.

2h. meter installation comprising an appliance receiving casing having an opening in one all, a meter adjacent said openin an adapter completing the enclosure of the appliance and the electrical conductors connecting the appliance and the meter, and a. sleeve yieldingly mounted in said opening-to releasably lock the adapter to the casing. said sleeve being enclosed by the adapter and casing and constituting -a bushing for leading said conductors through the casing \rall.

27. A meter installation comprising a meter, means comprising a. casin and an adapter to enclose an electric appliance and the connections from said meter to said uppliance, and an elastic locking means to hold the casing and adapter together, said locking means being releasable at all times but being contained within thejirst mentioned means so as to be out of reach while said first mentioned means is closed.

28. A meter installation comprising an appliance receiving 'casing, a meter correlated therewith, ,an adapter completing the enclosurefof the connections extending.

from within the casing to the meter, and elastic locking means to hold the casing and adapter together, said elastic locking means being accessible:.only from within the casing for release thereof, and the casing.

having a removable cover preventing access to said locking means when the cover is in closed position.

29. A meter installation comprising a meter, means correlated therewith and constituted of two parts, one of which is an appliance reeeiving'casing and the other of which is an adapter member completing the enclosure of connections extending from within the casing to the 'meter, said adapter being applied at one side of said casing hy movement crosswise of the casing, and a locking device projecting from one of said two parts into the space occupied by the other of said parts for locking engagement with a complementary locking device on said other part. said locking devices bein accessible for release only from within sai means, and one of the parts of said means being: provided with a cover which, when open, permits access to one of the locking devices to secure the release thereof.

30. A meter installation comprising a meter, means correlated therewith and constituted of two parts, one of which is an appliance receiving casing and the other of which is an adapter member completing the enclosure of connections extending from within the casing to the meter, said adapter being applied at one side of said casing by movement crosswise of the casing, and a locking device projectingfrom one of said two paits into the space occupied by the other of said parts for locking engagement with a complementary locking device on said other part, said other part being provided with a pathway for said projecting locking device permitting application of the adapter by crosswise movement as aforesaid, and said locking devices being accessible for release only from within said means, and one of the parts of said means being provided with a cover which, when open, permits access to one of the locking devices to secure the release thereof.

31. A meter installation comprising a meter, an appliance receiving casing, an adapter member completing the enclosure of connections reaching from within the casing to the meter, and a locking device projecting from one side of the casing into the path of the adapter for engagement there with to hold the adapter and casing assembled together, the adapter member being provided with a slot correlated with the locking device to permit the application of the adapter member b movement crosswise of the casing, and sai locking device being concealed and accessible for release only from within the casing and said casing having a cover which, when closed, places said locking device out of reach.

32. A meter installation omprising a meter, an appliance receiving casing, an adapter member completing the enclosure of connections reaching from within the casing to the meter, and a spring-held locking device projecting from one side of the easing into the path of the adapter for engagement therewith to hold the adapter and easing assembled together, the adapter member being provided with a slot correlated with the locking device to permit the application of the adapter member by movement crosswise of the casing, and said locking device being concealed and accessible for release only from within the casing and said casing having a cover which, when closed, places said locking device out of reach.

33. A meter installation comprising a meter, a correlated means constituted of two parts, one of which is an appliance receiving casing and the other of which is an adapter completing the enclosure of the connections extending from within the casing to the meter, and a spring-pressed locking device contained within said means and projecting through a hole in one of said parts into locking engagement with the other of said parts, and one of said parts being provided with a cover permitting access to said locking device.

34. A meter installation comprising a meter, an appliance receiving casing correlated therewith and having a knock-out hole in one of its walls, an adapter completing the enclosure of connections extend ing from within said casing to the meter and covering said knocleout hole, and 'a looking member within the casing arranged to act through the said hole to engage said adapter, the casing being provided with a cover preventing and permitting access to.

the interior of the casing and thereby controlling the release of said locking member.

35. A meter installation comprising an appliance receiving casing, a meter adjacent one Wall of said casing, said wall of the casing being provided with a knockout hole, an adapter covering said knockout hole and completing the enclosure of the connections extending from within the casing to the meter, said adapter having an open-ended slot in a wall thereof registering with said knockout hole, and a spring-pressed locking member extending through the said hole to engage with the wall of said slot to hold the adapter to the casing, said open-ended slot permitting the adapter to pass said locking member and be applied to the casing by movement cross-wise of the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH sAoHs. Witnesses L. L. MARKEL, HEATH SUTHERLAND. 

